If you have a collection of old baseball cards stored away in your attic, basement, or tucked away in an old shoebox, you may be wondering what to do with them. Baseball cards can be a nostalgic window to the past, but they also may have accumulated value over the years depending on the players, year, condition and other factors. There are a few main options to consider when it comes to old baseball cards:
The first option is to simply keep them. If the cards hold sentimental value to you as a connection to your childhood or memories of collecting them, there is certainly no harm in continuing to store them safely and passing them down to future generations in your family. Properly storing cards in plastic sleeves or cardboard sheets in dry, temperature controlled areas like a basement can help preserve them. Over time, cards belonging to star players from past eras that are in good condition may increase in value as rarer and rarer specimens remain. So holding onto a collection purely as a keepsake is a viable choice.
If space is an issue or you’re more interested in potentially gaining some value from the cards, there are sale and appraisal options to explore. One approach is to have the collection professionally appraised. A reputable sportscard appraiser can evaluate each card, identify valuable and rare pieces, check conditions, and provide an estimated current market value for insurance or estate purposes. Many local comic book and collectible shops offer such services for a fee. An appraisal will give you a better sense of whether you have any true “gems” worth substantial money in the bunch.
If interested in selling, either individual cards or the full collection, there are also multiple potential avenues. Online marketplace platforms like eBay allow you to list cards yourself and potentially reach a wide buyer base. With the vast number of listings and variability in value estimates, actually getting top dollar this way requires time, effort in photography, descriptions and negotiations with bidders. For a easier sale option with less work, local collectors and hobby shops will often buy entire collections outright for a consolidated price, though it likely won’t be as high as selling pieces separately over time.
Another choice when looking to sell is to work with a respected auction house. National companies like Heritage Auctions, Robert Edward Auctions and others regularly facilitate sports memorabilia sales, providing authentication services, pre-sale estimated values, and promotion to reach serious card buyers both domestically and internationally. Putting a collection up for auction lets the market set the prices and can result in higher prices than a flat shop buyout deal if any true “keys” are present. Consignment auction options are available where the auction house only takes a small cut of final prices.
Before pursuing any sale, it’s important to have realistic expectations based on several key factors that determine a card’s worth:
Player/Year – Cards from the early 20th century along with legendary players from any era most likely hold higher values. More recent players need a high level of fame.
Condition – Near mint or mint condition cards that show little to no wear will be far more valuable than ones that are worn, faded, creased or damaged. Professional grading helps buyers verify condition.
Rarity – Especially for older decades, the scarcer a particular card the more coveted it will be by collectors. Very low print run promotions are quite valuable.
Completeness – Make sure cards still have intact fronts and backs, and are not cut, trimmed or missing parts as that damages value.
Current Player Interest – Cards depicting players still generating fans and social media buzz are hot right now. Cards need to appeal to contemporary collectors.
Getting cards professionally appraised is also a good idea before sending them off for online auction to avoid accidental fraud. Reputable auction houses will screen submissions to prevent inflated consignments. Always disclose cards’ true conditions up front.
Old baseball cards provide the chance to potentially gain value from nostalgia, make a profitable sale, or pass a piece of history to new generations. With reasonable expectations set by professional guidance, collectors have multiple smart options for what to ultimately do with their stored cards from the past. Taking the time for accurate appraisals or testing auction waters allows owners to make informed choices for how best to manage their baseball memorabilia possessions over time.
